Weng Jover

January 15, 2016February 23, 2017

When in Batangas: Hike to Taal Volcano Crater

So we were on our trip to Manila for the Maroon 5 Concert and we were planning a day tour to the nearby places just to get the most out of our stay. If you’re a traveler, I suggest you would skip Manila. Because of the hustle and bustle of the traffic, your time will just be put to waste commuting the whole day. Go outside and explore what the nearby provinces have to offer. You’ll just be surprised that there are plenty of adventures lined up for your choosing. If I could recommend a place that’s exciting and an easy reach at the same time, it would be a trip to the Taal Volcano Crater.

Just 50 kilometers from the south of Manila lies the second most active volcano in the Philippines and the smallest in the entire world. Taal Volcano is indeed a geological wonder. Imagine a volcano within a lake within a volcano within an island. If that doesn’t confuse you, technically the Vulcan Point Island is within Taal Volcano Island which is within Taal Lake sitting within Luzon Island comprised within the Philippine Islands. I guess that makes sense now.

Imagine hiking to one of the most dangerous places in the country. Then if you think that’s an adrenaline rush with its profoundly perfect panoramic view, picture yourself lavishly plunging in Taal Crater Lake. Yes, you can actually freaking swim there. Well, this is definitely one for the books.

To make our trip easy, I already arranged a tour with one of the cheapest I found. It’s around 900 pesos per head which is from Bryan Gonzales Malvataan at Talisay Batangas. Depending on your point of origin and whether you commute or have a private service, Bryan gives directions for an effortless way to their boat station. He even texts you just to get an update of where you are specifically.

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We left our hotel at seven in the morning. After a series of bus and jeepney rides, we arrived at the Taal Boat Station around 9:30 am. We were briefed on their cottage made of nipa huts; we registered ourselves and signed a waiver. Few minutes passed and we were ready for the boat ride which lasted for about 15 minutes. The waves were calm and the weather was great so we were ready for the time of our lives.

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With five minutes of walking, we reached the registration office. However, we booked a tour so our boatman arranged everything for us. The horses were all lined up partnered with their horsemen. The number of the horses were just as many as the number of tourists visiting this tourist spot.

Going up to Taal Crater takes up about 30 minutes of horse riding and about an hour and a half of trekking. The trail to the top gets steeper while overlooking the panoramic view of the Taal Lake. You have to make sure to hold on to your horse very well or your might fall. Good thing, Saring, my horse, knows how to follow instructions from my guide and I was in good hands.

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The top of the volcano consists of a viewing deck for a scenic view of Taal Crater and Taal Lake. A number of vendors were selling souvenirs and snacks right at the entrance. On the right side of the terrain is what they call the red lava area. There is an additional payment of 50 pesos for its entrance fee but it’s definitely worth it since you get to be closer to the crater and have a perfect backdrop. The area can be reached within a 10 minute hike. Remember to be cautious as there are no railings on the side so watch every step as the path can be steep and dangerous.

As usual, we stayed for a little while to do some picture taking. Thankfully, our tour guide knows the best shots and angles. He even choreographed some of my poses. Now satisfied with our takes, it was time to head back to the mainland. Unfortunately, it rained hard so we had to secure our raincoats which were freely given by Bryan.

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The tour was a little tiring. The weather was a bit crazy. Luckily, we had free coconut drinks when we returned. We changed clothes and decided to have lunch in Tagaytay. Bryan was very accommodating and he even arranged our transportation and gave us some tips on our travel.